Windshield cleaner



Feb. z8, 192s. A 1,661,133

F. G. FOLBERTH ET AL WINDSHIELD CLEANER Filed May 6. 1924 aftozneq Patented eb. 28, 1928.

UNITED lSTATES N t 1,661,133 PATENT OFFICE..

FREDERICK G. FOLDEBTH AnD WILLIAM n. FOLBEB'IH, or CLEVELAND, OHIO, AssIGNoBs 'ro TRIGO PRODUCTS CORPORATION, or BUFFALO,`NEW YORK, A Con- PORATION F NEW YORK.

WINDSHIELD CLEANER..

Application tiled lay 6, 1924.` Serial No. 711,467.

This invention relates to windshield cleaners, and more particularly to valve actuating mechanism therefor.

In a prior application, filed Manch 24,

y 1924, Serial No. 701,519, we have described and claimed it valve` actuating mechanism for windshield cleaners consisting ofl a primary lever` actuated by the movement of the piston, and a secondary lever connected lthereto by means of a spring, the valve being carried by the secondary lever.

An object/of the present invention is the provision of a somewhat similar construction in which a pivoted primary lever 1s em- 15 ployed.

A further Object of the invention is'the provision of a construction in which the levers are in the form of disks or rings surrounding the sleeve through whlch the motor shaft extends.

A still further object is the provision o f a simplified construction of valve mechanism consisting of relatively few parts which are unlikely to get out of order.

'In the accompanying drawings, we' have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing: n

vFigure 1 is a central vertical longltudlnal sectional view,

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectlonal view showing the invention applied to a windshield,

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the valve actuating levers disassembled, and,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a closure 40 plate.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates a windshield frame of ordinary construction, having a pane 2 of glass or other transparent material arranged 45 therein. The windshield cleaner consists 0f .a motor casing 3 ada ted to be arranged on the interior of the Windshield and having a transverse shaft 4 which extends through the frame of the windshield, as shown, projecting in front of it. A cleaner arm 5 is secured to the shaft and a cleaner element 6 is carried by'this arm and is adapted to contact with a portion of the windshield to be cleaned. i

4each other, forming a cylindrical motor casing. A closure plate 8 is arranged at the center of the motor and a clamping element conslsting of a band 9 is secured to the Fclosure plate and extends around the adjacent ends of the two sections of the motor casing to secure them to Aeach other. As shown, the closure plate is arcuate shaped and is provided with a pair of lugs 10 on its exterior. The upper end of -the clamping element is secured to the upper faces of these lugs by suitable fastening elements 11 and the lower end-of the band is similarly secured to the lower faces of the lugs. The band 9 does not provide an airtight joint about the cylindrical members 7, nor do the free ends of said members 7 contact with an air-tight joint. Consequently the space between the pistons 14 is open to the atmosphere.

Within the cylinder, we provide a pair of spaced pistons consisting of disks 12 of metal or other rigid material which disks are slightly smaller in diameter than the interna] diameter of the cylinder. A strip 13 of rubber, felt, or other `fibrous material is arranged between the disks and this strip is of greater diameter than the diameter of the cylinder, forming a skirt 14, which prevents leakage of air beyond the pistons. A suitable fastening element 15 is passed through openings in the disks to retain them in assembled position. The disks are con-4 nected by means of a connecting member 16, having its ends extended at a right angle, as at 17, and secured to the fastening element 15. This connecting member is provided with spaced openings 18, forming a rack.

The closure plate 8 is provided with an enlargement 19 on its inner-face and a sleeve 20 extends inwardly from this enlargement. As-shown (see Figure 2), the, motor shaft 4l extends through an opening in the enlargement and the sleeve. A segmental gear 21 is mounted on the shaft and this gear is provided with teeth 22, meshing with the rack teeth 18 of the connecting member, whereby the reciprocation of the pistons will oscillate the gear 21 and the shaft 4. The upper portion of the segmental gear is provided with an arcuate face 23, curved on a radius from the center of the shaft 4 and the ends of this arcuate portion are provided with lugs or projectins24 by means of which the valve actuating mechanism is Controlled.

rlhe enlargement 19 is provided with a suction passage 25 extending outwardly and communicating with a tube or conduit (not shown) adapted to be connected to the in'- take manifold of an internal combustion engine (not shown) or other source of suction. As shown, the outer portion of the conduit is enlarged and threaded to receive a threaded valve stem 26. The valve stem is provided with a valve 27 on`its inner end adapted to engage a valve seat 28 formed in the suction passage and the stem projects from the enlargement and is provided with a suitable operating handle 29. On each side of the suction passage, there is provided a connecting passage 30 (see Figure 3), the outer ends of which are connected to tubes 31 which communicate with the opposite ends of the cylinder through openings 32. v

A cup-shaped valve 33 is arranged on the inner face of the enlargement and this valve is adapted to establish communication beconnectingpassages.

Valve actuating mechanism is provided'to alternately place the valve over the suction passage 25 and one of the connectlng passa es 30 to alternately connect the opposite ends of the'cylinder to the source of suction. The valve mechanism consists of a primary lever 34 in the form of a ring or disk which is adapted to fit around the sleeve 20, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. The upper end of the lever is provided with an extension 35, having an offset portion 36 arranged over the arcuate surface 23 of the segmental gear and adapted to be engaged by the lugs or projections 24 when the gear is oscillated. 'The lower end of the lever is provided with an arm 37 extending in the opposite direction from the offset portion 36 and the terminal of this arm is extended upwardly, as at 38. The arm 37 is provided with a cut-out portion or slot 39 and the material from this cut-out portion is extended downwardly, as at 40, from the bottom of' the terminal 38. The body portion'of the lever and the terminal 38 are provided with alined openings 41, adapted to receive a pivot pin 42.' This pivot pin is received in a block 'or extension 43 arranged on the bottom of the sleeve 20.

The 'primary lever is adapted to actuate a secondary lever 44, having a substantially circular opening which surrounds the sleeve. At the bottom of the circular opening there is provided a rectangular opening 46 having side walls 47 which are adapted to engage the side faces of the extension 43 to limit thev movement of the `secondary lever. As shown, the secondary lever is provided with an opening 48 at the top for the reception of a pivot pin 49 which is received in an opening 50 in the inner face of the enlargement. Adjacent the bottom, the *secondary lever is provided with an opening 51 adapted to receive a stem 52, formed on the valve 33. Beyond this opening, the lever is extended inwardly, as at 53, and then upwardly, as aty54. The upwardly extending portion 54 of the secondary lever is arranged in vertical alinement with the downwardly extending portion 40 of the primary lever and these portions are provided with openings 55, adapted to receive the ends of a coil spring 56.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The cleaner is applied to the windshield in the usual manner and the reciprocation ot' the pistons in the cylinder oscillates the shaft 4 to swing the cleaner element 6 in the arc] of a'circle over the portion of the windshield to be cleaned. The oscillation of the gear 21 causes the shoulders 24 to alternately engage the odset portion 36 of the primary lever and swing it on its pivot. When this lever is swung on its pivot, the spring 56 is first compressed, as the lever moves toward a position to bring'the center line of the spring in alinement with the pivots 42 and 49 of the lever. When the center line of the spring passes the line of pivots, the tendency of the spring is to expand and this expansion of the spring swings the secondary lever on its pivot to shift the valves.

With the parts in the position shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the left end of the cyllnder is in communication with the source of suction and the pistons are traveling toward this end of the cylinder. This swings the segmental gear in aclockwise direction and as the pistons approach the limit of movement, the lug 24 at the left end of the arcuate portion 23 engages the offset portion 36 of the primary lever to swing it on its pivot. The primary lever is swung in a clockwise direction and the portion'below the pivot passes the vert-ical center line of the shaft to assume a position at the opposite side. The secondary lever is then swung in a counter-#clockwise direction to move its lower end toward the right and position the valve 33 over the right connecting passage 30 and the suction passage 25.

It is to be understood that the form of our invention herewith shown andV described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

We claim:

llO

lao y l levers surroundin said shaft, one of said levers being ivote adjacent the bottom, theupper portion of said lever bein `provided with an offsetportion adapted to e engaged by a movable part of the motor to `swing said lever on'its plvot, the second lever being arran ed adjacent said first lever, and ivoted at le top;;said valve being carried y sald l aecondf'ever, -and a spring secured to the `Slower endsl of said levers.

2. A device constructed in accordance with claim 1 'including means for limiting the movement of said second lever to properly position said valve.

' 3. A device constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein said levers consist of disks ha central openings for the reception of said aft. t

4. A device constructed in accordance with claim lwherein the lower end of each lever is extended laterally in relatively superposedM relation, with the first lever end spaced above the second lever end, the first lever end having a downturned portion and the second lever end having an upturned portion, the spring bein secured to said downwardly and upward y extending portions.

5. v A device constructed in accordance withclaim 1 wherein said first lever consists of a disk having a central'opening and an offset `arm at the top, the lower end of said disk having an ofset portion extending in the opposite direction from said offset arm and being further extended upwardly parallel to the disk, said last mentioned portion and said disk being provided with openingsV in alinement with each other for the reception of a pivot pin.

6. f A device constructed in.7 accordance with claiml 1 wherein said cylinder is provided with a stop, and said second lever comprises a disk having a substantially circular central opening for the reception of the shaft and a rectangular opening beneath said circular opening, the side walls of which are adapted to engage said stop, said disk being pivoted at its upper end, the lower end being provided with an extension at right angles to the disk, the outer end of said extension being offset and arranged parallel to the disk.

'i'. Valve actuating mechanism for windshield cleaners comprising a casing, a movable member mounted in said Casing, a motor shaftboperatively connected to said member to be oscillated thereby, a valve to alternately connect the casing on opposite sides of said movable member to a source of suction, a pair of levers surrounding said shaft, one of said levers being pivoted at one side of the shaft with the portion of said lever on the opposite side of the shaft being adapted 'to be engagedby a movable part of the mo-4 tor to swing said lever on its pivot,V the second-lever being arranged laterally adjacent said iirst lever and pivoted at said opposite side of the shaft, said valve being carried by said second lever at the side of the shaft remote from the pivot of said second lever, and

a spring lsecured to adjacent ends of said levers.

-8. Valve actuating mechanism for windshield cleaners comprising a casing, a movable member mounted in said casing, a motor shaft operatively connected to said memberto be oscillated thereby, a valve to alternatel'y connect the casing on opposite sides of said movable member to a source of suction, a pivotally mounted valve sup orting member surrounding said shaft, a vaiife carn'ed by opposite to the vpivot of said valve support- -iny vmember, 'an actuating member arranged adjacent said valve supporting member and adapted to -be engaged by a movable part of the motor to actuate said member, said valve supporting member and said actuating memb'er being pivoted at opposite sides of said shaft, and a spring arranged between said valve supporting member and said valve actuating member whereby said valve supportin member will be swung on its pivot to shift the valve upon actuation of 'sald actuating member.

` 9. In a windshield cleaner motor, a casing having ashaft bearing andan adjacent valve seat, a shaft journaled in the bearing, a piston operable in the casing for operating lthe shaft, a valve operable on the valve seat, a lever pivoted at theopposite side of vthe shaft from said valve seat and extending about the shaft to engage the valve, a second lever pivoted at the side of the shaft adyjacent'said valve seat and extending about the shaft to a point adjacent the pivot of said -first lever for being engaged and moved by a moving part of the motor, said first lever adjacent its valve-engaging portion and said member on the side of said shaft said second lever adjacent its pivot having extending parts lying in a common plane, and a spring compressed between said extending parts.

10:- In a windshield cleaner motor, a casing having a shaft bearing and a stop part at one side of the bearing, a piston operable in the casing, a shaft journaled in the bearing and operable from the piston, and valve mechanism for voperatively connecting the casingl to a source of iuid pressure, said mechanism comprising a lever pivoted at the side of said shaft bearing opposite from the stop part, said lever 'having an opening through which the shaft bearing and said one direction and then in the opposite direcstop part extends, said lever opening having tion for positioning the Valve alternately in 10 spaced Walls between Which said stop part each of two positions. extends'for cooperation therewith in limit- In testimony whereof, we afix our signa:V ingl the pivotal movement of said lever, a tures. A

valve operable hyl said lever, and resilient Y means operable by and during .movement of FREDERICK Gl FOLBERTH.

said piston for swinging the lever firstin WILLAM M. FOLBERTH. 

